MOTORCYCLE ACTION
Brand Stipulation of Tyres: Europe calls Germany to order
PRESS RELEASE
28th June 2000
Brand Stipulation of Tyres: Europe calls Germany to order!
"The brand stipulation for replacement tyres for powered two wheelers is
unacceptable". This is the answer given by the European Commission (EC) to
the question of Bernd Lange, German Member of the European Parliament.

This reaction has been provoked by the situation in Germany where brands
for replacement tyres were still listed by manufacturers in registration
papers of motorcycles.

Logical answer from the Commission as the new European type-approval
regulations (the famous "Multi-Directive") which entered into effect in
June of last year clearly states that no make can be made compulsory for
replacement tyres for two- & three-wheelers. This was adopted to prevent a
hindrance to the free competition between tyre manufacturing companies.

The EC will now get in contact with the German authorities to put that
situation back in good order.

Below a translation of the question by Bernd Lange and the answer of the
European Commission.

ENDS

Issued by Christina Gesios


===========================================================
Written question by Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament, to the
European Commission, about the question of brand stipulation of tyres 
(Translation Heike Weller)

The brand stipulation originally planned by the Commission for brand
stipulation was not adopted to the directive 92/61/EWG, as the European
Parliament saw a regulation of tyre-types within the operation permit for
motorcycles  (EU-ABE) by the manufacturer as restraint of trade concerning
tyre manufacturing companies possibly not given preference.

After the directive has come into effect, German manufacturers seem to
achieve registration of certain tyre-types in the registration papers as
before, however, by using the detour via type approval.

Are such practices known to the Commission? Is, from the Commission's point
of view, the directive's national translation in Germany a contradiction to
the European legislation?


==========================================================
Answer by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the European Commission
16th June 2000 (Translation Christian Lehnen)

The legal stipulation regarding the technical requirements of tyres and
their fitting are included in the directive 97/24/EC of the European
Parliament and the Council from 17 June 1997 about certain parts and
characteristics of two wheeled and three wheeled motor vehicles.

The Commission has been informed about tyre type restrictions on designated
in Germany manufactured motor cars. After a correspondence with the
Commission, the German authorities on 29 February 2000 transmitted a
notification to the Commission where the type approval authorities are
instructed to no more in the future include these type restrictions in the
vehicle documents. The notification furthermore declares that the existing,
in the vehicle data registered type restrictions are without any legal
effect.

In the opinion of the Commission, the determination of tyre types for motor
powered two wheelers in like manner is unacceptable. The Commission will
get in touch with the German authorities to clarify the situation.
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